In this week’s P.S. Column, we highlight standout leaders and organizations who their peers are recognizing for making a difference. Texas Appleseed has named Travis Torrence, U.S. Head of Legal at Shell USA, as this year’s J. Chrys Dougherty Good Apple Award recipient. The nonprofit will also honor Alston & Bird with its Pro Bono Leadership Award at its Nov. 4 dinner in Austin. Meanwhile, Attorneys Serving the Community announced Shared Housing Center as its next beneficiary, supporting efforts to prevent homelessness in Dallas. On the national stage, the American Bar Association is honoring the State Bar of Texas Law Practice Management Committee with a Solo and Small Firm Project Award. And in Houston, the Hispanic Bar Association welcomed eight new board members.
Celebrating This Year’s “Good Apples”
Texas Appleseed has announced it will honor Travis Torrence, U.S. Head of Legal at Shell USA, at its annual Good Apple Dinner.
The nonprofit public interest law center will host the event Nov. 4 at the Four Seasons Hotel in Austin.
For his “exceptional leadership, reflected in his mentorship of emerging legal talent, service within the Bar, and tireless work to drive positive change through nonprofit service,” Torrence was selected to receive the organization’s J. Chrys Dougherty Good Apple Award.
Torrence has advanced justice in his community through furthering Shell’s pro bono work and by serving on the board of directors for the Texas Access to Justice Foundation. He has also served in leadership capacities for the National LGBTQ+ Bar Foundation, the Yale Law School Fund Board and others. The Association of Corporate Counsel’s Houston Chapter and The Texas Lawbook honored Torrence in 2022 with its Award for Achievement in Diversity and Inclusion. You can read our article here.
Texas Appleseed will also honor Alston & Bird with its Pro Bono Leadership Award. The law firm played an essential role in supporting Texas Appleseed throughout this year’s state legislative session. According to Texas Appleseed, the firm contributed to four urgent projects, which involved tackling issues such as the Texas Juvenile Justice Department’s nondisclosure of mental health service data, safeguarding a law school access program and advising on data privacy matters.
Information for becoming a sponsor may be found here.
Fundraising to Prevent Homelessness
Attorneys Serving the Community – a Dallas area volunteer organization of women lawyers, judges and law students – announced that Shared Housing Center was selected to be its 2025-2026 beneficiary. The Dallas nonprofit has for more than 40 years supported women, children and families facing risk of homelessness.
Each year, ASC selects a beneficiary from an application process and raises money for the organization through its fiscal year, which runs from July to June. The yearlong effort culminates in an annual luncheon. This year’s luncheon on June 13 featured prominent advocate Elizabeth Smart as the keynote speaker and, in total, ASC raised more than $586,000 for POETIC, a nonprofit that helps youth who have been victims of maltreatment, sexual exploitation and trafficking.
ASC’s unique model routes every dollar raised through events, membership dues, and corporate sponsorships directly to the selected beneficiary.
With ASC’s support, Shared Housing Center plans to expand its child enrichment programs, offer a dedicated agency van to help families without reliable transportation and hire an employment coach. More information about the initiatives may be found here.
ABA Honors Texas Bar Committee
The American Bar Association Solo, Small Firm and General Practice Division announced its Solo and Small Firm Awards recipients and the State Bar of Texas, Law Practice Management Committee is among them.
The Committee, chaired by Gray Reed Senior Counsel Gregory W. Sampson, will receive the Solo and Small Firm Project Award today at the ABA Annual Meeting in Toronto.
The state’s Law Practice Management Program, established in 1995, helps attorneys start and manage their practices. The program is shaped by input from the Committee, a standing body of the State Bar committed to fostering ethical, efficient legal service delivery, supporting sustainable law practices, and enhancing the business and management skills of Texas lawyers.
Hispanic Bar Association Names New Board Members
The Hispanic Bar Association of Houston recently announced its newest members joining its Board of Directors.
“Each of these accomplished professionals brings valuable experience, fresh perspective, and a shared commitment to advancing our mission of advocacy, mentorship, and personal growth,” the organization said in a LinkedIn post.
The new members are:
— Gabriela Alvarez – Senior Associate at Baker Botts
— Daniel Avila II – Senior Associate at Reed Smith
— Alexandra Farias-Sorrels – Partner at Sorrels Law
— Leticia Hernandez – Associate at Johnson Garcia
— Enrique Jaramillo – Counsel at Curtis, Mallet- Prevost, Colt & Mosle
— Richard Ramirez – Partner at Baker Botts
— Jacquelyn Rex Tobin – Partner at Steptoe